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Round Up: Hot Mormon Topics in the News

It should come as no surprise to most members of the LDS Church that the closer a Mormon gets to the U.S. presidency the longer the claws of those who oppose such a thought will extend. In a matter of only a few days news headlines are covering our beliefs about tithing, baptism for the dead, temple garments, heaven and hell, etc. in the hopes of dissuading potential voters from a Mormon for President.

As Mormon beliefs and practices continue to be put under the public microscope, unfortunately and for the most part, it's not for a better understanding of what we believe but rather to create skepticism and distrust in persons that believe such seemingly odd things. Going with the premise that people tend to fear what they don't understand, those who oppose presidential candidate Mitt Romney are doing their best to present to the public what they believe will damage his chances in Florida this week -- his Mormon faith.

I've previously made it very clear, that here on WBMW, I will not promote a specific candidate. However, that does not mean I won't do my best to take opportunities to help clarify our Mormon beliefs and doctrines during this heightened scrutiny, which are often misrepresented.

So if you happen to come across this blog in hopes of gaining a better understanding of some of the Mormon beliefs that are being discussed in the news currently, I'd like to share some links with you in hopes of giving you credible information on a few of the topics mentioned above.

"Tithing is not unique to Mormons, of course. Many churches practice it in one form or another. Jewish observance of tithing long predates Christian communities. But in Mormon practice it is understood to mean donating “one tenth of our increase” to the service of God. At the close of the Book of Malachi, the Old Testament prophet wrote:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)."

"With the release of Mitt Romney's tax records on Tuesday, the world now knows what was previously known only by a select few: Mitt and Ann Romney pay 10 percent of their income in tithing to their faith.

Traditionally, tithing records are viewed as a confidential matter between members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the lay leader of their church congregation, but for the Romneys in the midst of a presidential campaign, those charitable donations are now a matter of public record."

"From the start of Romney's career as a public figure--and, in many ways, well before then--the special undergarment worn by many observant Mormon men and women had been a point of political curiosity, debate, and derision. While provocateurs and bloggers make jokes about "magic Mormon undies," anti-Mormons try to cast the garment as something more sinister--a bizarre symbol of its wearers' fealty to a scary, secretive cult. The reality is far less exciting."

"If you were to ask nearly any Mormon what it is that they hear, or are personally asked about most often, it will no doubt be the wearing of our "secret, magic or funny - underwear" as many refer to them.

Of course, they are referring to the white temple garments which endowed members of the LDS Church wear every day. Adult members when they go to the temple for their first time, to receive their endowment, are given the garment ceremonially. In the temple endowment faithful members of the church make sacred covenants with God. The temple undergarment serves as a reminder to all endowed members of the church of the covenants that they have made with God."

"Many people have died without receiving a valid baptism, and they cannot undergo this precious ritual as mere spirits. "Because all on the earth do not have the opportunity to accept the gospel during mortality, the Lord has authorized baptisms performed by proxy for the dead. Therefore, those who accept the gospel in the spirit world may qualify for entrance into God's kingdom" (See Guide to the Scriptures).

One thing that should be made perfectly clear about Mormon baptisms for the dead is that each deceased soul has the personal choice to accept or reject it. There is nothing in Mormonism that states that the person who is being baptized by proxy must accept this ordinance; he or she is simply given the opportunity to choose."

"Heaven is the place where God lives and the future home of those who do God’s will and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. The hope of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the purpose of life on this earth is to teach us and prepare us that we, along with our families, might live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ eternally."

"Death is not the end. Death is really a beginning—another step forward in Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. Someday, like everyone else, your physical body will die. But your spirit does not die, it goes to the spirit world, where you will continue to learn and progress and may be with loved ones who have passed on.

Death is a necessary step in your progression, just as your birth was. Sometime after your death, your spirit and your body will be reunited—never to be separated again. This is called resurrection, and it was made possible by the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-22)."

" Mormons believe in hell, but our conception of hell is different than the one that generally springs to mind, and we use the word to mean different things in different contexts. For us, there are two “hells”, really. One is a state of pain, guilt, and anguish where the spirits of the wicked will be after they die but before the final judgment (we often call this state spirit prison). The other is an everlasting state of hell reserved for a few truly wicked (we commonly refer to this one as outer darkness). Because the second state only applies to few, for the majority of people hell will not last forever: after the final judgment most people will receive some degree of glory."